TUSCALOOSA, Ala.– Though he is six months removed from high school, the University of Alabama football program has full confidence in the man wearing No. 2 from Channelview, Texas.
The Southeastern Conference is full of hostile environments that would scare most seniors and yet, true freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts has handled the schedule with grace and composure.
After guiding the Crimson Tide to an SEC title, one game separates the four-star prospect from becoming just the second true freshman since 1985 (Jamelle Holieway, Oklahoma) to lead a team to a national championship. Hurts and Alabama will face the Washington Huskies on Saturday at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, to kick off this season’s College Football Playoff.
While much appraisal has been placed on Jake Browning, Hurts chimes in with a record-setting year.
Along with being the first true freshman to start for Alabama since 1984, he was the first to be recognized as SEC Offensive Player of the Year. Under offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, the 6-foot-2 and 209-pound signal caller is fourth in the conference in passing yards (2,592) and passing efficiency rating (146.1) while leading the SEC in completion percentage (65.3%).
Hurts is responsible for 34 total touchdowns and has four 100-yard rushing performances– all coming against SEC opponents. Despite Washington’s defense ranking first nationally in turnover ratio (+21) and allowing 17.2 points a game, opposing teams have totaled 125.3 yards rushing. Huskies’ coach Chris Petersen and his staff have not played a quarterback this season that will attack like Hurts on the perimeter.
Protecting the ball will be Hurts’ biggest assignment.
He’s caused 14 of the Tide’s 19 turnovers, however, his confidence and body language allows him to make clutch plays after mistakes. Is the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl a huge stage? Yes, but so was AT&T Stadium, Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, D.W.R. Razorback Stadium, Neyland Stadium and Tiger Stadium.
All five venues witnessed Hurts and Alabama emerge victorious, despite adversity. It’s now a one game season and for Hurts, he knows he’s a game away from fulfilling college football history.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
